Ohio News Briefs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State regulators have given the green light to a northeast Ohio medical marijuana cultivator so that it can start planting its crop.

Ohio’s Department of Commerce says Buckeye Relief is the first large-scale grower to pass inspection and receive its operation certificate.

The company will begin planting immediately at its cultivation facility in Eastlake, just outside Cleveland.

The state says Buckeye Relief plans to have its finished product ready by the end of the year.

Ohio’s delays in selecting processors and allowing cultivators to grow plants have pushed the availability of medical marijuana further past the state Legislature’s Sept. 8 deadline.

Two other smaller sites already have been issued certificates of operation to grow plants.

Trial reset for baby sitter charged in toddler’s death

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — The trial of an Ohio baby sitter charged with murder in a 3-year-old girl’s death has been reset to later this year.

The Hamilton-Middletown News-Journal reports a judge on Monday rescheduled 36-year-old Lindsay Partin’s trial in Hamilton from Oct. 2 to Dec. 10. Partin has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in Hannah Wesche’s death.

Emergency crews responded March 8 to Partin’s Hanover Township residence for an unconscious child. Authorities say they found Hannah unresponsive with bruises.

Authorities say Partin assaulted the child, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. She died March 18. Prosecutors allege Partin previously hit the girl for dumping ketchup in the toilet.

A message was left for Partin’s attorney.

Police: Semitrailer driver killed when truck overturns

TALLMADGE, Ohio (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Ohio say the driver of a semitrailer died after the vehicle overturned on Interstate 76.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports Kenneth Ours was heading east on I-76 near Tallmadge when the truck travelled off the road and went down an embankment. Police say Ours tried to drive the vehicle back onto the road and it overturned.

The 55-year-old Akron man was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital where he later died.

Authorities say the truck Ours was driving is owned by J. Rayl Transport, of Akron.

Police closed a portion of I-76 for several hours following the crash.